LACROSSE CANADA’S ONGOING CHALLENGE; MORE OR BETTER?

By Pierre Filion pierrefilion@bell.net

It’s rather basic but every national sport association has a preoccupation for the development of their sport. They all want more players and they also want those players to play better. They want the Association to perform better. Rather simple to understand but more complex to realize. And to be efficient in both areas.

Lacrosse Canada faces those challenges and the best way to appreciate its efforts is to have a look at the 2026-27 budget and see where the Association invests (spends) its money.

The money comes from four different sources: Sport Canada contributes 1,265,162$ (30.5% of the budget); sponsors and donations create a revenue of 174,500$ (4.2% of the budget); the members’ contributions through membership fees, national championships, transfers, meetings and clinics shovel in 2,161,314$ (52.1% of the revenues); finally, the National Teams and the Development Program turn in 542,700$ (13% of the budget).

Total revenues are of 4,143,675$; Lacrosse Canada works with a balanced budget so the expenses are to be, obviously, 4,143,675$. Where the Association spends its money will help us understand its priorities and areas of investments.

Generally speaking, Lacrosse Canada spends its money in three different areas; the expenses for administration and staff come up to 1,729,379$ (41,7% of the expenses); the National Teams and the Development Program’s expenses are of 1,610,707$ (38.8% of the expenses); and finally, expenses for services to the members (meetings, national championships and projects) are of 803,589$ (19.3% of the expenses).

Clearly, or at least financially, Lacrosse Canada has chosen to support High Performance and National Teams as its priorities. This having been said we all understand that Lacrosse Canada is the only group who can support its National Teams; and we know them to be costly.

No one suggests that we should axe the National Teams or reduce their presence internationally. Canada has been a leader in the international development of the game and now that it qualifies for an Olympic status it would be counterproductive and slightly suicidal to refrain from participating in international events even if we all know that in each international competition Canada will come out with either a gold or a silver medal. We all know that, but it’s irrelevant. Canada must participate in each relevant international competition; and it does, at great expense!

No one will criticize Lacrosse Canada for trying to win gold medals but maybe someone should look at the administration of the money and cut back on irrelevant or unnecessary expenses. But regardless the costs will be expensive especially in years where Canada must play in faraway countries.

An increase in sponsorships, donations and fund raising would, for other National Associations, be easier than it would be for Lacrosse Canada as the sport is comfortable in a marginal existence; let’s face it, very few Canadians know about lacrosse; fewer would be available to support it financially.

The low number of registered players is not appealing to sponsors; neither is the imbalance of players in different provinces. In 2025 Ontario registered 19,313 players while Québec registered 801 players; NFLD registered 53 and PEI 153. National sponsors will rationally stay away and Lacrosse Canada will fall back on local or regional partners. It would be rude to suggest that the members should increase their financial contributions to Lacrosse Canada’s High-Performance programs. Yeah, quite rude!

Supporting High-Performance activities or programs is financially difficult especially if it’s Lacrosse Canada’s priority as expressed in the 2026-27 budget. It will be costly to be better!

Three staff members are dedicated to High-Performance!

Associations usually have an inclination to grow their game and to recruit more members.

From the 2026-27 budget we see no inclination whatsoever to increase the number of lacrosse players in Canada. Services to the members are for meetings, national championships and projects. 803,589$ will be spent FOR the EXISTING members. There is no provision in the budget for a plan or a strategy or whatever to communicate with NON-MEMBERS in order to have them play lacrosse and thus increase the number of lacrosse players in Canada.

The challenge to increase the number of players is not a challenge; it’s not a plan; it’s not even a wish or a dream. There is no real and organized program to have the game grow significantly. It’s not in the budget; it has never been in Lacrosse Canada’s budget. It’s not even a concern and it is particularly depressing to read here and there that Lacrosse Canada is developing the game across the country.

Lacrosse Canada does not develop the game across the country. It leaves the concern to the provinces who are not equipped at all to address the issue of development. They carry the burden and the guilt and the game goes on with small increases some years and some declines some other years.

The provinces never pressure Lacrosse Canada to significantly address the issue of development towards non-members. They are satisfied with the services they receive and concentrate on their own needs and activities. Most provinces don’t carry a national perspective and only see the game as it is in their own backyard.

Not one Lacrosse Canada staff is tasked with the development of the game towards non-members.

In terms of credible organized national development lacrosse is a passionate status quo.

The challenge to create some sort of a balance between ‘’more’’ and ‘’better’’ clearly does not exist as, according to the 2026-27 budget, monies are all spent towards High-Performance programs and activities while there is not a penny invested in the development of the game towards the non-members who could become legitimate members.

In Lacrosse Canada’s perspective ‘’development’’ is an improvement with services towards the members; the players, coaches and officials. That’s it; that’s all.

The game will never grow but Canada will win a gold medal here or there. That’s it; that’s all.